Sleet, rain and snow expected in Douglas County this weekend

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service said Douglas County could accumulate an average of 7 inches of snow during Saturday’s storm.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for eastern Kansas that will be in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. Scott Whitmore, a meteorologist with the NWS in Topeka, forecasts a mix of freezing rain and sleet early Saturday, followed by snow starting around 6 p.m.

“There will be snow coming down on top of sleet and freezing rain, and it will really be slick,” Whitmore said. “This hazardous mix of adverse weather is the reason for the warning.”

According to the NWS forecast, there is a 30 percent chance of light freezing rain and sleet Friday night and into Saturday morning. After 6 a.m., the wintery mix is expected to pick up and last through the day tomorrow. There is a 90 percent chance of heavy snowfall Saturday night, total accumulations ranging from 5 to 9 inches.

The warning cautions against any travel except in an emergency.

“Roads will be pretty treacherous tomorrow,” Whitmore said. “The temperature will stay well below freezing, so whatever falls is going to stay. It’s a rough weekend to travel.”

Whitmore said the snow should taper off early Sunday morning, with a 20 percent chance of snow before noon.